croutons

With its crunchy croutons, crisp leafy greens, and tangy dressing, the Caesar can be considered the king of dinner salads. In this grown up variation, subtle changes enhance the flavor and appearance of the dish. Radishes act as a pop of pretty color, shaved instead of grated Parmesan adds depth to each biteful, and fresh anchovies are deliciously salty. The anchovies are not necessary, so if the little fish is too overpowering simply omit from the salad.

To take a look at the recipe, which was developed by MyRecipes.com, read more

When I think of leftover corned beef, two recipes almost always come to mind: sandwiches and hash. While I love both of those, I was very excited by this recipe for a salad that uses up corned beef. This recipe comes together quickly, making it ideal for a Monday night meal. Two types of lettuce — green leaf and iceberg — are tossed with a quick, easy homemade thousand island dressing. If it sounds super scrumptious, read more

Normally, when one thinks of broccoli cheese soup, cheddar cheese comes to mind. However one of my favorite supermarket soups is a delicious blend of broccoli and blue cheese. Now don't go all "eww I hate blue cheese" on me. Stirred into a puree of tender, green broccoli, the blue cheese is mild and creamy rather than moldy and pungent.

This soup is elegant, delicious, and elevates a cafe classic to a whole new level of sophistication. I topped my bowl with crunchy cheddar croutons. You really won't regret giving this smooth soup a chance, so see how I made it when you read more

This week I chose a recipe that would work deliciously in a Thanksgiving menu. Instead of the classic pumpkin or squash varieties, a light, slightly creamy mushroom soup is an excellent addition to the traditional menu. Topped with a blue cheese crouton and chopped chives, this soup is rich and heart warming. It's simple to make and yields a large batch, making it perfect for a crowd. If you love the taste of mushrooms, definitely give this soup a try. If blue cheese is too strong for your liking, substitute with a creamy goat's cheese or salty Parmesan. To see how I made it, read more

Although I know it's not the most healthy dish around, cheddar cheese soup is one of my favorite comfort foods. Creamy melted cheese dotted with crisp, crunchy croutons — could a meal be any more simply delicious? Besides the massive amount of cheese grating, this soup doesn't take a lot of time to make and is best eaten right away. I treated myself to a big bowl for a decadent dinner after a long Monday, but this soup would pair nicely with a green salad or make an excellent first course to a dinner party menu. The flavor of the soup depends on the quality of the cheese, so if you can, splurge on a good sharp cheddar. A glass of wine definitely complements this soup, as does an icy cold beer.

To see how I made it, read more

Whenever I am in Spain, my Spanish friends ask me about typical American dishes. I hate to mention hamburgers (because I'm more of a hot dog type of girl) and instead answer Caesar salad. Caesar salad is on practically every menu from those at McDonald's, to high end haute cuisine restaurants. It has single handedly increased the sales and production of romaine lettuce. If ordinary everyday people are eating it up, then big time Hollywood players must like it as well. This year Wolfgang Puck is making a chic version of the salad as part of his tapas menu for the Oscars after party blowout bash, The Governor's Ball. For a salad recipe worthy of five stars (Leonardo, Mark, Jake, Djimon, and Brad), read more